Can a 30-30 lee Loader be converted to 32 winchester special?

[badwolf]

Has anyone tried this? 32 special loaders are impossible to find.

[barrabruce]

Maybe.
I have converted one to a small 30 cal case the don’t make one for.
I had to heat up the base of the die to kill the loctite so I could unscrew it from the base.
The you can get at the neck sizing area of the die.
I chucked that in a 4 jaw and trued that up then recut with a small boring bar to the diameter I needed.
Then just had to reassemble and cut it down to size. With a new unfired case I then used some good release agent and inserted the case into the Lee die after filling it with something like jb weld.
I think it took two goes to get it mostly filled.
That worked for a 310 cadet rifle.

You may find all you have to do is machine and polish out the sizing section of the 30-30 die to a diameter that suits your brass and chamber.

You can make a M die if you need to open the brass a bit.

If the gods are kind you could probably just use it as a seater and re-primer tool if the guns throat will allow you to use the fired case as it is.

It’s quicker and your brass will last till the primer pockets wear out.

[243winxb]

From Lee-
We have no plans to add any calibers to the current line of Classic Lee Loaders due to declining sales for this great product. Lee Precision also does not offer any custom work for its Classic Lee Loader line.

The neck may be honed to larger diameter. The head to datum is .010" longer on the 32. This may need corrected with a reamer. Headspace is on the rim, but doesnt help here.

Overall, just part of the neck needs sized. So reaming out the neck area should work?

My best guess. Study the SAAMI drawing for both, an compare.

[Nobade]

I would think that if you had the tools to modify one you could just make a new one about as easily.
I have made quite a few neck sizing dies like that using the Redding sizing bushings, they are quite nice and well finished and the rest of the die is easy to make to hold them.

[jetinteriorguy]

I have no experience with this but could you possibly get a chamber reamer and just cut it to the proper dimensions? Just a crazy thought.

[barrabruce]

You could but the case neck would be fired size.
You need a smaller diameter to size the neck back down.
Hence Nobade’s sizing bush insert.
Which one would have to open up to accommodate.
So you may as well make one yourself if you are going to that trouble.
If you had the reamer that cut your chamber.
And the Lee dies are just hollow cavities. There isn’t the support and guidence like foster dies, if you want to get down to it.

Still load good ammo with them thou.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

No offense meant, but maybe a Lee Breechlock Hand Press with a set of .32 Special Dies would be a simpler solution and work better, even allowing the 'conversion' and use of 30-30 brass for the 32 Special. You may also find a Lyman 310 (tong) Tool and .32 Special Dies that would work very well. I have never used a Lee Loader for rifle/handgun cartridges tho' I have a 20 GA Loader that works well. I have used the Lyman 310 a great deal and an older Lee Hand Press(not Breechlock) that work very well for portable or 'take-along' reloading.

[jetinteriorguy]

You could but the case neck would be fired size.
You need a smaller diameter to size the neck back down.
Hence Nobade’s sizing bush insert.
Which one would have to open up to accommodate.
So you may as well make one yourself if you are going to that trouble.
If you had the reamer that cut your chamber.
And the Lee dies are just hollow cavities. There isn’t the support and guidence like foster dies, if you want to get down to it.

Still load good ammo with them thou.

I kind of figured that might be the case.

[Bazoo]

Interesting discussion. It never occurred to me. I do very much like the Lee Loader, with my only complain being that you cannot buy a full length sizer to go with it. You're only option there is to source a old Lyman accessory die for the Tong Tools. I have one in 30-30 to correct brass that was fired in excessively chambered guns.

[barrabruce]

Have a look around for pound dies or vice dies.
A full length dies were quite common once.
You can get them if you look around
Simplex have them
I have a few
https://simplexreloading.com.au/
They did make them